Reference no: EM132322090

Business Ethics and Sustainability Assignment -

Learning outcomes - At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Discriminate between key western philosophical approaches to ethics.

2. Discriminate between ethics, legal requirements, and religious doctrine as they impact on contemporary business and be able to critically comment upon the role of culture in ethical decision making.

3. Advocate a position - and establish ways of advancing that position - on the ethical issues associated with the western capitalist business system through analysis, critique and the presentation of corroborating evidence.

4. Exemplify professional judgement: in assessing alternative perspectives of corporate responsibility in the context of contemporary business issues; and in the management and measurement of sustainable performance.

5. Evaluate the sustainability agenda and justify assessment of the implications for business.

6. Evaluate and debate the role of social movements and institutional changes to business operations.

7. Clearly communicate conclusions to inter-disciplinary audiences demonstrating a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.

Assessment 1: Short Case Presentation

Objective - Critically analyse a short case assigned to your group in the field of sustainability and/or business ethics.

Required - Each week selected students (typically 3 or 4) will co-operatively lead and facilitate discussions related to the short case their lecturer allocates them. At the end of the discussion session, the facilitators will give a summary of the insights from the ideas or points covered in the discussion.

The major challenge associated with this assessment involves being a facilitator and leading seminar discussion. All students should search for techniques that demonstrate how to act as a facilitator so as to promote group interaction, dynamics and discussion. There are many techniques that can be used to assist you in performing this role - Google for hints.

In facilitating the short case, this must be done via a role-play. Yes, we are all actors on the stage of life. The context could be a board meeting, chatting at a bar, a fairy-tale, a press conference, a 60-minutes style interview, a Skype conference etc. You can play some or all of the characters or experts in the case - or make up extra cast members (a customer, supplier, reporter, government official etc.) A bunch of people sitting down (some with backs turned to class) mumbling away will not elicit a pass grade; if someone in your case is angry - sound angry! Engage the class - and this requires you to get their input by voluntary or more direct means: distributing roles (e.g. as an expert analyst, distribute numbers then pull some out of a box, offer presents; get the audience on their feet and move to different places according to alternate opinions, or just pointing out members etc.). An ethical issue: you would no doubt hope others show up to class and actively participate when you present - will you show up & contribute for others when its their turn?

Maximums -

• presentation and discussion 25 minutes (a timer will sound to end it all)
• only one PPT slide is allowed as backdrop for the role-play (e.g. picture of boardroom etc.).

Assessment 2 - Article on a special topic

Objective - To compile an article on a special topic that reports on, and critically analyses, the objectives, operations and performance outcomes of either:

i. a social enterprise in the country in which your course is conducted; or

ii. a sustainable tourism/hospitality business in the country in which your course is conducted; or

iii. a B-Corporation in the country in which your course is conducted; or

iv. a topic - as advanced or approved by your local lecturer - that has relevance to matters of ethics or sustainability and can inform your lived life - things like Palm oil; 'clean coal energy', application of the 'circular economy', we technologies or practices that promote sustainability etc.

Scenario - A major international business magazine - HBR (Herbert Management Review) - has contracted you to write a 'profile' article on either a social enterprise OR a sustainable tourism business OR a special topic. They believe there are some really interesting organisations or topics that would be of interest to local and overseas readers.

Alternative i - note on social enterprises (for further details see Topic 9): Social enterprises are businesses established by entrepreneurs with an emphasis on human values rather than just profit. They are not charities or welfare agencies, but seek to achieve social change by having an economically viable business model that services societal needs while drawing support from the community. Some Australian examples (there are many also in Malaysia and other countries): the MADCAP Café that employees young people with mental health issues to make the coffee in stands at Masters Hardware stores; Fifty-six threads café run by AMES - which trains young refugees and migrants in hospitality skills; Streateats - trains & employs homeless youth; Who gives a crap - recycled toilet paper; Dress for success - clothes for women in need of support in getting a job; Scarf hospitality that trains refugees; and Goodcycles - trains and employs disengaged youth in bicycle repairs

Alternative ii - note on sustainable tourism/hospitality businesses (for further details see Topic 8): Sustainable tourism takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing and balancing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. Things like eco-hotels, nature tours, or hotels/hotel chains that have strong sustainability credentials, restaurants that have sustainable sourcing or waste minimisation practices, etc.

Alternative iii - note on B-Corporations (for further details see Topic 8): B-Corporations are a relatively new form of business that require certification and have objectives centred around balancing the triple bottom line - economic, social & environmental responsibility.

Alternative iv - note on special topics: in some locations in various semesters your local lecturer may provide you with, or approve , an alternative area of study to social enterprises or sustainable tourism (you can find some ideas at corporateknights.com or checking out the unit resources).

Required - Prepare an article for the business magazine that reports on, and critically analyses, the objectives, operations and outcomes of a social enterprise or sustainable tourism business or special topic - and include performance data and photos where possible. The magazine (it could be a fashion mag; a travel mag; a hospitality mag; a sustainability mag; a professional mag {like HBR, Fortune, Forbes etc.}; or some other mag) is expecting: great content in a feature which is engaging, and exhibits a clear and crisp writing style. Article quality not quantity is the key.

Notes -

1. You report should provide the reader with a brief background of social enterprises or sustainable tourism businesses or special topic: what are they; what they do; how recent a phenomena are they; who are the stakeholders; and how they fit with a modern capitalist economy.

2. Your report is expected to contain pertinent primary data - information that has been developed by your group. Your primary data can come from: your observations of the social enterprise or sustainable tourism business in action (e.g. what you experience visiting say a café, bar or wherever the public interface of the organisation is); and/or discussions (and quotes) that you get directly from the operators or clients that you gather in person, by phone or by electronic means. As this is a magazine article, no formal Harvard referencing at the end ('out of text') is required - but sources would usually be given 'in-text' e.g.: " ... the website notes that 300 people were assisted ..."; " ... staff said that business is increasing rapidly ...".

3. Your paper must contain a 'Research Appendix' of one or 2 paragraphs that describes the nature and sources of your primary research and notes the name(s) and contact detail(s) - phone number or email or some other appropriate evidence - of interviewee(s). No paper will be considered for marking that does not contain an appropriate Research Appendix.

4. This is not a 'cut and paste from the internet' exercise - articles that do not contain substantive primary data and do not provide a critical analysis cannot receive a pass grade.

5. It is useful to evidence and illustrate your research to include a contextual photograph of the article author(s) - where practicable

6. Why is co-operative work by a maximum of two people allowed and encouraged? Learning by doing and discussing is important, so it is useful to work co-operatively to form and consolidate ideas. It is also practical for pairs to operate as: there are less individuals battling for opportunities to do things like meet with or call actors (e.g. managers or consumers of organisations); and it can feel more supportive if you have someone else to help collect primary data or discuss insights and formulate ideas.

7. How do pairs submit their work? The article is written under name of both members (the article must be clearly labelled with names and IDs) and submitted by ONLY one of the members to the Assessment 2 dropbox in collaborate. If your partner appears to be 'free-riding', recognise this early and submit your own article in your name.

Assessment 3: Reflective Journal

Objective - The objective of this assignment is for you to reflect on your own thoughts and application in relation to material designated for seminar discussion in each session. Reflections are NOT simply a summary of a reading's content - but are about your reaction to that content; what are the main insights, agree disagree? Relevance to your in workplace or lived life?

Want an additional incentive? 1. The tasks on which the 'one-pagers' are based provide key concepts & examples that can drive and shape your exam answers and inform your professional practice. Teaching staff can see objective evidence of a common correlation between the quality of a student's 'one-pagers' and their examination results. 2. A pass in this assessment component is necessary in order to pass the unit.

Practicalities - By the start of each of the ten sessions (session 2 to 11), you are required to submit your reflections on the set case study and the 2 compulsory readings (these are listed in the teaching schedule).

The reflection on each item (the case and the 2 compulsory readings) ought to identify one or two key points being made in each; and finish off with the posing of a question that interests or troubles you. There is no need to link the case and the readings for each session; you may treat them as separate issues. The 'one pager' concept means that your discussion must fit on a page - but it need not fill up a page; in many instances a short paragraph or group of dot points are sufficient to capture 1 or 2 key insights from each item (i.e. the short case and the 2 articles). Practice speed reading and browsing for key points that 'jump out'. Be prepared to discuss the case and reading each week in class.

Assessment 4: Final Exam

Objective: The objective of the exam is to test your understanding and application of the basic subject concepts on ethics and sustainability.

Format: Case study and questions

This is a closed-book exam (no resource materials to be brought in) and it will be completed over 2 hours as scheduled by the University. The ideal is "think not ink" - usually shorter and well thought-out answers give best results. You are required to respond to the questions posed for each case or issue provided.

A sample exam, examples of solutions and 'talking points' is available in the 'assessment examples' folder in Collaborate. This sample gives you some indication of the size and nature of questions asked in the past and is not a definitive guide to how yours will look.

Exam part A: Ethics case(s):

• make a choice on an ethical dilemma and use theoretical frameworks to support your judgement; and
• prepare a GVV (giving voice to values) response for efficiently and effectively putting 'the decision' which has been made into action.

Exam part B: Sustainability issues & scenarios:

• discuss issues in managing sustainability
• discuss methods for measuring sustainability performance.

Note - Need the assignment assessment 2 as soon as possible.

Attachment:- Assignment File.rar